Elastic pusher device, with assembly on tracks of retail shelving gondolas and gradual placing system of items for their subsequent removal

ABSTRACT

Elastic pusher device, with assembly on tracks of retail shelving gondolas and gradual placing system of items for subsequent removal, as a substitute for springs and other complex and costly mechanisms to push items in retail gondolas, by means of elastic band system ( 14 ) with lower cost, and constant pressure up to the end of the units, hence, more efficiently, where two stoppers ( 1   a ) and ( 1   b ) are locked in each one of the far ends of the track (T) of the retail gondola (G) with an elastic hand ( 14 ) wrapped around two pulleys ( 8   a ) and ( 8   b ), maintaining such band ( 14 ) stretched along the track (T), over which the pusher plate ( 9 ) is attached creating a “closed” tension circuit in the retail gondola (G). After the displacement of the pusher plate ( 9 ) towards the free stopper ( 1   b ) upon rotation of the pulleys ( 8   a ) and ( 8   b ), the retail items are placed in groups over the track (T). As they are removed, by means of the tension maintained by the base wall ( 13 ) the clip ( 15   b ) the elastic band ( 14 ) and originated from the anchor stopper ( 1   a ), the group is maintained pushed against said anchor stopper ( 1   a ). Thus, such retail items are removed, one by one, always being forced by the pusher plate against the removal end until the end of the refill at its compartment on the retail gondola, so they can be taken one by one, gradually, by the customers.

The present descriptive report refers to an application for a patent of invention of a device working with elastic band (rather than springs) to automatically move retail items, gradually placing the retail units for subsequent removal, one by one, by the customer in retail shelving gondolas.

STATE OF THE ART

As known, retail stores make use of forward feeding pusher devices so that products can be removed more easily from the shelves, gondolas and other kinds of displays, thus simplifying the purchase experience of the customer.

In this sense, only one example can be cited, which may be seen in the document US 2014 138330 filed under the name “DISPLAY MANAGING SYSTEM” which claims a pusher device of larger surface, moving over the track so as to force the products, by the action of a spiral spring, to the far end where each retail unit can be removed, one by one, and be taken by the customer. The device mentioned above counts on a number of components for the pusher mechanism which results in additional costs to its final production apart from making it more difficult to substitute parts in case of damage.

Some kinds of retail gondolas (in the case at hand) have a number of contiguous, parallel compartments bearing longitudinal channels at the back where their respective tracks are engaged each bearing an upper pusher plate on whose lower support surface a flat steel spring is positioned, coil. The free end of this spring is inserted beneath a cut at the bottom of the pusher plate and, by means of a flap at the same free end, it is fastened to a stopper attached to the edge of the track which, in turn, at the opposing end, attachments to another stopper, free. FIG. 1, attached simply to exemplify, shows the pusher plate activated by the spring.

For its use, the pusher plate is pushed against the free stopper extending the spring to great tension along the track, over which the retail items to be exposed are allocated. Thus, a group of units is kept pressed against the front surface of the pusher plate and the spring-lock stopper, pressing the retail units against each other. The spring is uncoiled as the retail units are removed, forcing them gradually and positioning them, one by one, against the lock stopper so as to be taken by the customer.

This is exactly one of the inconveniences of the mentioned flat steel spring which tends to lose tension as it is uncoiled. With such negative effect, the final retail items (which are now placed at the removal end) do not suffer the action of being appropriately pushed to this desired position. Hence, the flat steel spring has its function ill-used leaving the retail gondola at a state of “operational neglect”, not being visually attractive, apart from forcing the customers to stretch their arms to reach for the retail item.

Apart from the loose tension caused by the uncoiling upon gradual removal of the retail items, as explained above, the time of use itself makes the flat steel spring lose its retraction properties (memory). Furthermore, in case of damage, it cannot be replaced and, since it is flat, coil or not, it may even hurt the hand of the user.

Other negative factors are, as well, crucial since steel has great commercial value, having to be laminated, rut and treated thermally to be then coiled. Steel is known to be susceptible to oxidation requiring additional treatment (mostly regarding the use for the food industry).

OBJECTIVE OF THE PATENT

The device at hand, for its design, allows the tensioning of an elastic band which is extended through two small pulleys of respective bearing supports incorporated in each of the stoppers at each end of the track of the retail gondola. The elastic band is fastened by having one of its end attached to one of the stoppers of the track (or the anchor stopper) and the other end to the anchor edge at the pusher plate itself so that, upon being pushed to the free stopper, it will always maintain itself highly tensioned towards the way back, against the mentioned anchor stopper, by the action of the elastic band stretched along the track.

By doing so, a system is generated by the elastic band which will maintain the same tension from the initial point of the assembly procedures, hence keeping steady pressure between the pusher plate and the anchor stopper of the device. Thus, all the retail items are forced by the pusher plate against the removal end until the end of the refill at its compartment on the retail gondola, so they can be taken one by one, gradually, by the customers.

Having been superficially explained, the device and respective system will now be better detailed.

The images on FIG. 1, as mentioned before, refer to the state of the art, showing, at the top, the cod flat steel spring inserted through the lower support surface with its flap-shaped end so it can be fastened to one of the stoppers of the track. At the bottom, the track, assembled with a pusher plate to be activated by the flat steel spring for the displacement of the retail items.

The following images, from 2 to 9, refer to the device and respective system, subject of this patent application, which will now be explained in further details:

FIG. 2 is a top perspective showing the anchor stopper aligned with the clip at one of the ends of the elastic band which stretches through the lower hole of the pusher plate, following between its front parts and wrapping the pulley in the free stopper. Subsequently, the elastic band returns wrapping the pulley in the anchor stopper, surpassing the lower hole beneath which it aligns with the anchor wall of the pusher plate making a “closed” tension circuit for the device;

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective of the previous image;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the elastic band stretched along the track, between the pulleys of the two stoppers and the pusher plate;

FIG. 5 View as of the previous image, showing the assembled device;

FIG. 6 Perspective view of many units of the device, assembled, ready to be placed in the corresponding channels in the compartments of the retail gondolas;

FIG. 7—Perspective view of a retail gondola bearing ready-to-use assembled devices, set to push the retail items;

FIG. 8 Longitudinal cut view of the assembled track. This view shows the pusher plate being moved towards the free stopper, as the pulleys turn clockwise. Details A, B and C show this feature. At this stance, the pusher plate is tensioning the elastic band;

FIG. 9 View as of the previous image, however, at rebound, when the elastic, starting at the anchor stopper, causes the pusher plate to return.

In accordance with the attached images the “ELASTIC PUSHER DEVICE, WITH ASSEMBLY ON TRACKS OF RETAIL SHELVING GONDOLAS AND GRADUAL PLACING SYSTEM OF ITEMS FOR THEIR SUBSEQUENT REMOVAL”, object of the present application for a patent of invention, is constituted, as shown specifically by FIGS. 2 and 3, by two stoppers, being one an anchor stopper (1 a) and the other a free stopper (1 b), both containing a subsequent restraining flap (2) with clamping nosings (3), defined by a transversal cavity (4) intersected by a central duct (5) delimited by front bearing supports (6) fixing, by axis (7) its respective pulleys (Sa), (8 b). The stoppers (1 a) and (1 b) are completed by a pusher plate (9) bearing laterally extending arms (10) for the vertical paddle (11) which has a lower stepped hole (12) close to the base wall (13). The set works with an elastic band (14) whose ends contain respective dips (15 a) and (15 b).

For the assembly, as shown on FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, the anchor stopper (1 a), by its transversal cavity (4) locks the clip (15 a) at one of the ends of the elastic band (14) which is inserted through the central duct (5) and, by its end with the other dip, (15 b) is inserted in the lower stepped hole (12), following between the laterally extending arms (10) of the pusher plate (9) so as to wrap the pulley (8 b) of the free stopper (1 b), going back to wrap the pulley (a) of the anchor stopper (1 a), surpassing as well the lower stepped hole (12) to lock its clip (15 b) on the base wall (13) of said pusher plate (9).

This way, after the attachment of the stoppers (1 a) and (1 b) delimited by its flaps (2) and fixed by the clamping nosing (3) in contraposition to each of the extremities of the track (T) of the retail gondola (G), the elastic band (14), wrapped around the pulleys (8 a) and (8 b), is maintained stretched along the track (T), on top of which, attached by the laterally extending arms (10), is positioned the pusher plate (9), for the creation of a “closed” tension circuit.

After installing the devices on the channels of the retail gondola (G), as shown on FIGS. 6 and 7, the pusher plate (9) is slid over the track (T) towards the free stopper (1 b) causing the pulleys (8 a) and (8 b) to rotate clockwise, details A and C. At this state, the pusher plate (9), by means of its base wall (13) with the dip (15 b) on it positioned, detail B, is then pushed towards the free stopper (1 b). As shown on FIG. 8, as the retail items are removed, by the tension kept by the bottom base well (13) the dip (15 b) and the elastic band (14) extending from the anchor stopper (1 a), the device continuously forces the group of retail items against the latter (1 a), as shown on FIG. 9, so as to be removed, one by one, by the customer.

On account of the design of the device, the elastic band (14) maintains the pusher plate (9) with steady initial tension as of the assembling moment on the track (T), exerting pressure so as to force the retail items, up to its last unit, against the removal end of the retail gondola (G) by the customer.

The cost of the elastic bend (14) is insignificant compared to that of the steel springs and alike, which have a high cost mechanism, apart from the fact that it can be easily substituted and it will not cause injuries, functioning safely and effectively on its rebound (memory) gradually pushing the retail items (even at the end of the refill, with a few items left) to be taken by the customer. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An elastic pusher device comprising two stoppers, being one an anchor stopper (1 a) and a free stopper, both hearing a restraining flap (2) with a clamping nosing (3), characterized for having a transversal cavity (4) intersected by a central duct (5) delimited by a front bearing support (6) fixing by axis (7) respective pulleys (8 a), (8 b), said stoppers (1 a) and (1 b) completed by a pusher plate (9) bearing laterally extending arms (10) for a vertical paddle (11) which has a lower stepped hole (12) close to the a wall (13), wherein the pulleys (8 a), (8 b) and the pusher plate (9) are set with an elastic hand (14) having ends containing respective clips (15 a) and (15 b).
 2. The elastic pusher device as defined in claim 1, having an assembly on tracks of retail shelving gondolas, wherein after the attachment of the stoppers (1 a) and (1 b) delimited by flaps (2) and fixed by the clamping nosing (3) in contraposition to each of extremities of a track (T) of a retail gondola (G), characterized by the attachment, in the transversal cavity (4) on the anchor stopper (1 a), of the clip (15 a) at one of the ends of the elastic band (14) inserted through the central duct (5) and with the end containing the clip (15 b) inserted by the lower stepped hole (12) and between the laterally extending arms (10) of the pusher plate (9) wrapping the pulley (8 b) of the free stopper (1 b), returning to wrap the pulley (8 a) of the anchor stopper (1 a), surpassing as well the lower stepped hole (12) and locking the clip (15 b) on the base wall (13) of the pusher plate.
 3. The elastic pusher device having an assembly on tracks of retail shelving gondolas as defined in claim 2, characterized by the elastic band (14) wrapped around pulleys (8 a) and (8 b) stretched along the track (T) host to the laterally extending arms (10) of the pusher plate (9), creating a closed” tension circuit in the retail gondola.
 4. The elastic pusher device having an assembly on tracks of retail shelving gondolas as defined in claim 2, characterized by a sliding movement of the pusher plate (9) towards the free stopper (1 b), with a clockwise rotation of the pulleys (8 a) and (8 b) stretching, by the base wall (13) where the clip (15 b) is locked, the elastic band (14).
 5. A gradual placing system of items for subsequent removal for the elastic pusher device as defined in claim 1, characterized by a steady tension of the elastic band (14) between the anchor stopper (1 a) and the front surface of the pusher plate (9), forcing the latter (9) constantly against the same anchor stopper (1 a).
 6. A gradual placing system of items for subsequent removal for the elastic pusher device having an assembly on tracks of retail shelving gondolas as defined in claim 2, characterized by a steady tension of the elastic band (14) between the anchor stopper (1 a) and the front surface of the pusher plate (9), forcing the latter (9) constantly against the same anchor stopper (1 a). 